Folding table and operating means therefor



Dec. 26, 1939.

E. F. KNOWLES FOLDING TABLE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR 'Filed Feb. 5,1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwvwwho'v Dec. 26, 1939. E. KNOWLES 2,184,500

FOLDING TABLE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Feb. 5, 1958 I 2Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWIN FZ/f/VOWL ES 7 Patented Dec. 26, 1939 FOLDING TABLEAND' OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Edwin F. Knowles, Globe. Ariz. ApplicationFebruary 5, 1938, Serial No.:188,98 7

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a self-closing, or selfopening folding table,and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efiicientmeans for simultaneously moving all of the legs of a table to or from anopen position as one of the legs is moved.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple andeflicient folding table and the like, having novelleg bracing means forproviding a sturdy and secure support and brace for the legs.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear throughoutthe following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a table and the like, showing the legsin a folded position;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a table and the like, showing the legsin an extended position, showing the operating spring in a position toautomatically move the legs to a folded position;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on 25 line 4-4 of Figure2;

' Figure 5:15 a fragmentary bottom plan view of the table and the likewith the parts in an extended position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a modified form of theinvention illustrating a ball and socket connection for the leg brace;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken online 1-| of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a sectional vie-w taken on line 8--8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional perspective view of a portion of one corner ofa table and leg, showing the hinge connection therefor;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary bottom plan viewillustrating a modifiedspring control of a spiral spring type for actuating the legs; and

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the means for anchoring theinner end of the spiral spring shown in Figure 11, a portion of thespring being shown in transverse section.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that 15 designates the topof the table, which willbe referred to as a body, in view of the factthat the element i5 may constitute a table top, chair seat,

or other structure, which is adapted to be supported by the legs 16. Thebody 15 carries side rails l! which depend from the edges of the bodyI5, as shown in Figure 4. A substantially U- shaped yoke hinge I8 isfitted in each corner of the body 15 and is secured to the underface ofthe body l5 and the inner faces of the rails l'( by means of screws orother suitable anchoring means. These yoke hinges l8 constitute an efli-"5 cient bracing means for the corners of the body '15 and rails l1,thereby forming a rigid frame for the legs 16. One leg 16 is hingedlysecured within each yok'e hinge 18 by means of a hinge pin I9 whichpasses through the yoke hinge l8 and 0 through a hinge plate 2!] carriedby the inner end of the leg E6. The yoke hinge 18 is provided with anopen face facing outwardly in the direction of swing of the leg [6 asshown in Figure 10, to permit the legs IE to freely swing to and from an"15 open and a closed position. A hinge brace 2| is carried by each legand comp-rises an angular member secured to one side of the leg 16having one end 22 extending laterally of the leg Hi. The outer extremityof the end 22 is journaled in a .20 spaced bearing 23, which bearing 23is in alignment with the hinge pin I9. This brace 2| strengthens the legIt at its hinge connection and braces the leg against lateral strain. Itshould be noted that the end 22. of the hinge brace 2| is 25 providedwith an inclined inner side edge 23a this side edge being inclined toprovide a tapering side toward the outer extremity of the end 22 andprevent the binding of this hinge brace against the adjoining outer endof the adjoining leg l6 when the legs are moved from a folded to an openposition.

The body 15 carries upon its under face a retaining plate 24, which isengaged by an actuating ring 25. The actuating ring 25 is supported uponA}; an overlapping annular flange or trackway 25 formed along the inneredge of the plate 24, as shown in Figure 3. The ring 25 extends flushwith the plate 24.

Each leg 16 is engaged by a bracing and actu- 40 ating link 21, as shownin Figures 1 and 2, and these links 21 are in turn connected to theactuating ring 25. A pivoted hinge clip 28 connects .each'link 21 to thelegs- [8 and a pivoted hinge clip 29 connects the opposite end of thelink to the .45 ring 25. The links 21 are attached to the ring 25 at apoint distant from the hinge axis of the leg I6 so that the link willproduce an hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle equal to the chordof the are described by rotating the ring 25, a 5 sufiicien't amount todraw the leg down flat against the plate 24. The above referred toisosceles triangle is formed by attaching the link 21 to the leg 16 at apoint below the hinge axis equal to the distance from the hinge axis tothe point of attachment to the ring 25. Each link 21 is provided with aT-shaped head 30 which is journaled in the hinge clip 28 and a T-shapedend 3! extending in a plane at right angles to the head 30 which end 3|is journaled in the clip 29.

A spring latch 32 is secured to the plate 24 and overhangs the ring 25.This latch 32 is apertured to receive one of the spaced pins 33 and 34,the pin 33 being positioned to hold the parts in a folded or closedposition, and the pin 34 being placed to hold the parts in an openposition. A disengaging trigger 35 is journaled in one of the rails I7and is provided with an angle end 36 which fits under the latch 32. Acrank handle 37! is carried by the opposite end of the trigger 35 andlies in the notch 38 formed in one of the rails ll. By turning thetrigger 35, the latch 32 may be raised out of engagement with one of thepins 33 or 34 with which it has engaged.

The body or table top I5 is provided with a central disc it! which maybe secured to the body or table top E5 in any suitable or desiredmanner, and is provided at its periphery with a concave channel t! forreceiving the tension coil spring 32 which is located between the ring25 and the edge or periphery of the disc Q9. The tension spring 12 isconnected at one end to a hook 43 carried by the ring 25 adjacent itsinner periphery. A pair of spaced anchoring plates M and t5 are securedto the under face of the body or table top it within the channel formedby the space between the inner periphery of the ring 25 and the outerperiphery of the disc 40. One end of this spring 3-2 is adapted to beanchored in selective engagement with one of the plates M or 45 bysecuring the pin 45 in engagement with one of the plates, such as theplate E5 shown in detail in Figure '7. When the spring is in theposition shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the pin it engages the plate t5,the spring 42 will automatically move the parts to a position toautomatically extend the legs to an open position wh n the spring latch32 is released from the pin 33. When the pin or screw 48 is anchored inengagement with the plate M, as shown in Figure 5, and the spring 42 isin the position shown in Figure 5, the spring will automatically pullthe legs it to a closed or folded position when the latch 32 is releasedfrom the pin E l.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that merely by reversingthe position of the spring 42 and without substitution or addition ofparts, the table may be readily converted into an automatic self-openingor an uto ti n folding table.

As shown in Figure 2, the spring :32 is under tension and when the latch32 is released from the pin the spring will rotate the ring 25counterclockwise, causing the legs i5 to automatically swing to a closedposition whereby the legs may assume a folded position under the tabletop, such as is shown in Figure 1, when the spring 42 is in a contractedposition. If it is desired, the operator may, through the medium of ascrew driver disconnect the end of the spring 52 from the pin 45 carriedby the plate 45 and connect the said end of the spring to the pincarried by the plate at, extending the spring in a reverse direction tothat shown in Figure 1, or in that position shown in Figure 5. The latch32 should then engage the pin 34 to hold the ring .25 in the positionshown in Figure 5, and the legs it will be extended. When the ring 25shown in Figure 5 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to bringthe pin 33 into engagement with the latch 32, the spring 42 will beextended and under tension. When the latch 32 is released from the pin33 the tension of the spring 42 will rotate the ring 25 shown in Figure5, in a clockwise direction and automatically swing the legs it to anextended position.

As shown in Figure 6 I have illustrated a modified form of the inventionwherein a table top we is illustrated having legs Ilia similar to thelegs previously described, and an actuating ring 2511, one leg lta beingconnected to the actuating ring 25a by means of an actuating link Zia,which link is connected to the ring 25a and leg 28a respectively, bymeans of ball and socket joints 29a and 28a respectively. The otherparts of the device are similarly constructed to the structurepreviously described, with the exception that ball and socket joints areemployed as a connecting medium between the leg and ring structure;

In Figure 11, there is shown a further modified 'form of the invention,wherein a table top i522 is illustrated, which is provided with suitablesupporting legs I db operated and constructed similar to that structurepreviously described.

The actuating ring 251) which is similar to the actuating ring 25,however, carries a hook 431? which engages one end of a spiral spring5221, Which spiral spring 521) is connected at its opposite end to ananchoring plate 4812 as is shown in Figures ii and 12.

It should be understood that the device, such as the table top, rails,legs, and other parts, may be constructed of wood, metal, or othermaterial without departing from the spirit of the invention, and thatthe present structural features are adaptable for use in connectionwith'folding chairs, as well as tables, and other articles of the samegeneral type. Furthermore, it is pointed out that the particular hingestructure illustrated in detail in Figure 10 may be applied to othertypes of hinged devices.

Certain detail changes in the mechanical construction, as well asarrangement of parts may be employed without departing from the spiritof the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of theappended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as .new is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a body, a plurality oflegs hingedly secured to the under face of said body, a retaining platesecured to the under face of said body and having a central annularopening, a supporting flange formed around the periphery of saidopening, an annular actuating member having a supporting flange alongits outer periphery and fitting in engagement with said first mentionedflange for retaining said annular actuating member in an operativeposition, actuating links connected to said actuating member and saidlegs whereby all of said legs will be simultaneously moved from oneposition to another position as said actuating member is rotated, asecond annular actuating member having an annular spring-receivingchannel, a tension coil spring fitting within said channel, means foranchoring one end of said spring to said first men" tioned annularactuating member, and means for selectively anchoring the opposite endof the spring to said body whereby the first mentioned actuating membermay be selectively and autounder face of the body and having an annularopening, an annular actuating member suspended from said retainingplate, means connecting said actuating plate with said legs forsimultaneously moving the legs to and from an extended position as saidactuating member is rotated, the actuating member being adapted to benormally locked in one position, a second annular actuating membermounted within the first mentioned actuating member and spacedtherefrom, a coil spring secured to the actuating member at one end andto said body at the other end intermediate the actuating members, andthe coil spring partly encircling the periphery of the second actuatingmember and being located between the said actuating members and shieldedthereby.

3. A device of the class described comprising a body, a plurality oflegs hingedly secured to the under face of the body and having anannular opening, an annular actuating member suspended from saidretaining plate, means connecting said actuating plate with said legsfor simultaneously moving the legs to and from an extended position assaid actuating member is rotated, the actuating member being adapted tobe normally locked in one position, a second annular actuating membermounted within the first mentioned actuating member and spacedtherefrom, the periphery of the second actuating member having a concavechannel, a coil spring secured to the actuating member at one end and tosaid body at the other end intermediatethe actuating members, and thecoil spring partly encircling the periphery of the second actuatingmember and being located between the said actuating members and shieldedthereby and fitting within the concave channel.

EDWIN F; KNOWLES.

